“This is a substantial investment for our department but we feel it is a necessary investment because of all the flooding incidents we have been experiencing the last several years,” says Sheriff Tony Mancuso. “In the past we have bought used military surplus vehicles but they were difficult to maintain and very unreliable in an emergency situation. If we learned anything from Hurricane Rita, it was that the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office needs to be self-reliant and our equipment must be functional in an emergency. We cannot afford to wait for assistance from the federal government.”

The vehicles will be positioned throughout the parish and used during emergency situations, like search and rescue, and flooding incidents.